Henry Avery : Rugby Player

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This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who served in, and survived, The Great War. If anyone has further information on the men concerned, I’d be most grateful if it could be added to the thread.

Gareth

Avery, Henry Esau DSO CMG CBE played for New Zealand

Internationals: 3: 1910 A+ A- A-

Henry Avery was born on 3 October 1885, in Wellington

Played as a Flanker for: Mount Cook School, Wellington College, Wellington College Old Boys, Wellington, North Island

Remarks: He played for Wellington in 1905 and 1906 and again in 1908 and 1909 before captaining his provincial team against the All Blacks in 1910. Avery reinforced the 1910 NZ tour to Australia and played in every game for which he was available. He played 6 games for the All Blacks, including his 3 Internationals. After leaving the Army in 1920 he established a Ford motor dealership, Avery Motors. He later served in the 1939-1945 War as Army Quartermaster General; CMG, CBE and US Legion of Merit

Attached Files:

Born - Saturday, 3 October 1885 in Wellington
Died - Wednesday, 22 March 1961 in Wellington

Harry Avery achieved distinction not only in rugby but in his military career and as a businessman. A product of Wellington College, Avery was a regular army officer who became the country's quartermaster general.

He ended his overseas service in World War I as a Lieutenant Colonel and, having retired from the army in the 1920s, returned to resume his old position as quartermaster general in World War II rising to the rank of Brigadier and winning a stack of military and civic honours including the CMG and CBE.

Avery's leadership qualities also were to the fore in his rugby and he captained both his club and the Wellington provincial side.

A wing forward or breakaway, he played for Wellington between 1905 and 1910 and in the latter season he also played for the North Island.

Avery was not an original choice in the 1910 All Black team for its tour of Australia. But after captaining Wellington in the preliminary match before departing for Australia Avery was one of the replacements called in when five players from the original selection withdrew.

Arriving in Australia after the team had already played one match, Avery soon became a first choice, making six appearances including all three tests.

Avery was involved, too, in a rousing Ranfurly Shield match against Auckland in the 1910 season. With a dribbling burst into the clear Avery helped create the try from which Wellington finished with a 3-all draw.

Avery played no more major rugby after 1910. Instead he concentrated on his illustrious military and business career.

After leaving the army in the 1920s he entered business obtaining the franchise for Ford motor cars and establishing one of Wellington's biggest motor companies, Avery Motors. Before returning to the army in World War II he was general manager in Wellington of the 1939-40 Centennial Exhibition.

He was made a life member of the Wellington College Old Boys in 1911 and he and later members of his family had a lifetime association with the club. Avery was club captain in 1920 and again in 1923-24